Container opening and filling mechanism



Aug. 14, 1956 T. E. PlAzzE CONTAINER vOPENING AND FILLING MECHANISM Filed March 8, 1951 /l ILIII,

CONTAINER OPENNG AND FILLING MECHAN'ISM Thomas E. Piazze, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assigner, by mesne assignments, to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 8, 1951, Serial No. 214,535

3 Claims. (Cl. 226-59) This invention relates to packaging machines for filling flexible bags or containers with merchandise and is more particularly concerned with a bag top opening or spreading mechanism.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a mechanism for spreading the top of a flexible container to fully open position and holding the same in such position While the container is filled with a quantity of the the commodity being packaged.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a bag filling machine a reciprocable filling spout and mechanism cooperating with the filling spout for expanding the top of a bag positioned beneath the filling spout into fully open position upon movement of the filling spout therein.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide in a bag filling machine having means for supporting a bag in open position and a reciprocable filling spout mounted for insertion within the open top of the bag, a plurality of bag top spreading members mounted in the path of movement of the filling spout which are automatically moved into top spreading position within the bag upon movement of the filling spout therein.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a bag filling machine having a pocketed conveyor for supporting therein a series of bags, a filling mechanism comprising a reciprocable filling spout arranged at a work station along the conveyor and mechanism, operated by movement of the spout to filling position, to open up or spread the top of the bag and hold it in opened position during the filling operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a bag filling mechanism a recpirocating filling spout, means for supporting an open bag beneath the spout so that the end of the spout moves a substantial distance into the bag just prior to the filling operation, and a cooperating means arranged to move into the open bag top as the i spout moves therein to spread the bag top and hold it in fully open position while the bag is filled with merchandise through the spout and the spout moves out of the bag.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a bag filling machine having a lling station and an intermittently operated conveyor having means thereon for supporting a sexies of bags and for successively positioning the same at the filling station, a reciprocable filling spout at the station, a fixed support having a central aperture therein and a plurality of resilient bag top expanding fingers connected to the supoprt and extending within the central aperture thereof, the filling spout and the aperture in the fixed support being aligned with the open top of the bag as it is positioned by the conveyor at the fillling station, so that upon movement of the filling spout through the aperture and into the top of the bag the inwardly extending fingers are pivoted downwardly and outwardly of their support into top expanding position within the bag.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the mechanism which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

nited States Patent O 2,758,764 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 Fig. l is a side elevation of a bag top spreading mechanism embodying therein the principal features of the invention, with portions of a supporting structure and a bag delivery conveyor being shown therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the bag top spreading mechanism, with the cooperating supporting structure and bag delivery conveyor being shown in section; and

Fig. 3 is a section, to an enlarged scale, taken generally on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The mechanism in the accompanying drawings which embodies therein the principal features of the invention is shown, for convenience in illustrating the same, incorporated in a packaging machine of the type described in my copending application for Container Filling, Closing and Sealing Machine, Serial No. 81,154, filed March 12, 1949. Only those elements of the packaging machine are shown which are necessary for an understanding of the operation of the mechanism of the present invention. The present mechanism may of course be incorporated in or used in conjunction with any other packaging machine of a similar character where empty containers which are of relatively flexible material and which are in opened out or set-up condition, are presented to a filling device for inserting therein a quantity of merchandise.

In the packaging machine with which the device is shown in the drawings empty bags which are fabricated of relatively flexible material such as paper, Cellophane, etc. are received in open condition in the pockets of a conveyor which is intermittently moved to carry the bags past a series of work stations which include a filling station, a bag top folding station and a bag top sealing station. These mechanisms operate successively on the bags to fill each bag with merchandise, to fold into closed position the top thereof and finally to seal the folded top by application of heat and pressure.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown the filling station of a packaging machine at which the mechanism of the present device is located. A conveyor 10 is supported on a frame member 11 and provided with pockets or holders 12 which are mounted thereon so that they are in upright position extending above the top run of the conveyor 10. The conveyor 10 is arranged to move each successive bag holder 12 beneath a material hopper or feed mechanism (not shown) which feed mechanism is adapted to provide a predetermined charge of the material which is to be packaged for delivery to each bag 13 in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor 10. Suitable mechanism (not shown) is provided for controlling the operation of the conveyor 10 to position the successive bag holders 12 intermittently at the filling station for a sufhcient length of time to receive a charge of material within each bag 13.

A delivery funnel or feed chute structure 14 is supported at the filling station on a horizontally extending bracket 15 which is secured to the top of a vertical reciprocating arm or rod 16. The rod 16 is supported in guide brackets 17 on an upstanding supporting post member 18 and reciprocated by a properly timed cam (not shown) or other operating mechanism.

The funnel or spout 14 is positioned at the filling station so that in retracted or elevated position it is above the top of the open bag 13 and in alignment with the same when a bag holdei 12 is moved by the conveyor 10 into position for filling the bag 13 therein.

A horizontal plate 19 is arranged to extend into the path of movement of the filling spout 14 between the and being also-ofsuiicient size to accommodate the portionA of. the. spout 1,4;V whichY moves. intoJ the same. as. the spout descends for the filling operation. lt is arranged in alignment with the spoutA 14 and the top of the bag 13 sot that upon. verticali-movementof-'thespout 141m. a downward directiony a substantial! por-tion of spoutf 1'42 willpass through the aperture A pluralityotinwardlyy extending relativell exible plate-likebag/topopening or spreadingv fingers 2d are secured at-v their outer ends at 22 to= theA support plate` 191- and extend radially inwardly of the aperture- 20. The ngers 21 are preferably formedl ofresilient material soy that` uponl movement: of the spout 14 through the aperture 20 the bottom edge 231 of' the spout 141-will engagethe upper surfaces ofthefingers 21 and-bendiorfpivot the same downwardly into-the openy top ofthe bag 113. As the spout 141 moves into the open top of the bag 131'. the-fingersy 211= spread outA radiallyandl holdi the margins ofthe bag 13 in a gener-ally circula-r fully opened positionA insuring the entr-y of the bottomI portionl of the=spout114 into the bag 13' iii-proper position for the filling-operation, The. product or merchandise which-is delivered by the weighing orl other charge measuring mechanismy (not shown) passes-through the spout I4 and into the bag 1'3 while the spout 14' andV the ngersl 21 are in the position shown in Fig. 2-. rIfhespout 14- is withdrawn by upward movementy ofl theA rod 116 leaving the charge ot` merchandise in the bagk 1131, and the fingers 221', due to their inherent-resiliency or their resilient mountingmove back into generally horizontal position, leaving the bag free for movement by the conveyor to the next stationfor further operations thereon'.

The filling spout 1st-is preferably formed with suficientlength to extend a substantial distancev within the bag, especially when the material being packagedgis in powdereda form, With the bottom edge 23- of the spoutl 14' movedl close to the bottom of the bag 13 the charge ofmerchandise may be deposited therein with a minimum of dust arising from the falling charge and with the mouth portions protected from any dust which does arise sothat loss ofA material is minimized and also there is little or no tendency for dust to settle on the marginal walls of they bag mouth wherer it would interfere with the formation of a satisfactory heat seal.

While the fingers 21 are preferably formedjof relatively thin, flat resilient spring plate material, they may be formed of suitable wire or of more rigid' material and also they may be hingedly mounted in such a manner that they willbeV moved into the bag top upon descent off'the spout 14'and` o ut of the bag topupon withdrawal of the; spout` 114' through the aperture 20ct the Supporting plate 19:

While the device of the present application has been illustrated'in connection with a specific filling and'closing machine, it will be understood that itmay be incorporatedl in other structures ofa similar character. Also it maybe used as an independent filling arrangement in which the baglis positioned manually, or by a suitable conveyor or carrier, beneath the reciprocable spout for the fillingoperation and removed therefromafter it has receivedthe desired contents.

The specific details of construction shown are illustrative only and'other details ofl construction Within the spirit of the invention are contemplated.

I' claim:

l. In a bag filling machine, a filling station, a conveyor having pockets for supporting a plurality of open bagsV therein, said conveyor being mounted for intermittent movement to position the bags. successively at the filling station,a vertically reciprocable lling spout mounted at said station with the lower endthereof positioned, when said spout is retracted, immediately above the top of a bag carried in a pocket of said conveyor, a fixed support meinber extending` horizontally into. the.v path. Qt movement. 0f said iilling spout, said fixed support member being positioned adjacent the top of a-bag supported in a conveyor pocket at said filling station and having an aperture therein for accommodating the filling spout, and generally V- shaped bag top expandingfingers of resilient material fixedly mounted. at the wider endthercoi on.said support member in spacedrelation' around, the periphery of the aperture therein with the narrower ends extending in a generally. horizontal direction intosaid aperture, said: fingers having` their free ends movable downwardly into agenerally vertical positionwithin-1r a bag top positioned in a pocket of the conveyor when saidfpockct ispositioned at said filling station to spread the mouth thereof upon movement of the lowerendothe-fillingspout into engagement with said fingers and through said aperture in said fixed support member.

2, Inl a bagfilling machine, a filling station, a filling spout mounted'y for reciproeable vertical-movement at. the filling-station, an` intermittently operated conveyor having pockets for supporting bags successively in upright position beneathsaidj filling spout, a supporty member extending horizontally in a\ plane beneath the lower end of said' :filling spout-when saidjspout is'` in retraetedY position and having an. aperture therein for accommodating the lower end of the iilling spoutV when said spout' moves downwardly, and a pluralityofbag top spreading mem.- bersY` ofrelatively thin, 'at resilient plate material rigidly secured at oneV end en saidj supportA member,y saidI bag top spreadingmembers extending in peripherally spaced generally horizontal position, into the aperture in said support member whereby said' conveyor, may be operated to move bags` positioned: in the pockets thereof in a lateralr direction to; a filling position, beneath said` support with the top edges of@ the successivebags moving into proximity tothe lower face ofsaid; support, said tingers, being adapted to havethe free ends thercofbowed downwardly into a generally vertical' position within the bag top to spread the, mouth thereof upon movement of the lower end' ofthe filling spout through said aperture.

3: In a bag iillingmachine, afilling` station, a filling.

spout mounted, for reciprocable Vertical movement at the fillingstation, means for supportingfsuccessive bagsin upright position with the top edges, at the mouth of the bags adapted to remain in fixed position relative, to, the verticalpath of movement of'said'lling spout duringpthe fillingoperation, a fixed support extending across the path of movement of" said"fi'lling spout withy the lower face thereofjadjacent thetop edges of the bags, said support having'an apertureA through which the-filling spout passes as it descends into the mouthof a bagandjbag top spreading members arrangedinl generally radial and horizontal extending relation in said aperture, said topl` spreading members beingt of resilientjmaterial' and havin gtheir inner free end; portions projecting into thepath of said' filling spout in non-engaging,spacedirelation whereby said top spreading membersare moved-into thebag by engagement therewith of the, lower edge, ot said, spoutA as itl descends into the bag.

References Cited'in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES l'fAfTENTSY 80335571v Peile et a-l. Oct. 31, 1905 11,045,381 Graf Novi. 26, 19112 1,295,197 Peterstet al. Feb. 25, 19-19 1,690,067 Weeks Oct. 30, 1928 2,031,005 Renfroe: Feb-litJ 1936 2,133,367 Wagner Oct: 18, 1938 2,292,660.-` Rentroe Aprall, 1942 

